benzyl alcohol
- Scope note
- An aromatic, clear and colorless liquid that consists of benzene bearing a single hydroxymethyl substituent. It is partially soluble in water (4 g/100 mL) and completely miscible in alcohols and diethyl ether. It is a useful solvent due to its polarity, low toxicity, and low vapor pressure, for dyes, gelatin, casein, cellulose acetate, waxes, and shellac. Other uses include mounting microscope slides, and as a reagent in the developing baths for photographic films. In conservation, benzyl alcohol has been added to gelled soaps as a wetting agent.
- Date of creation: 07-Oct-2024
Accepted term: 07-Oct-2024